UK Vets Extract Tooth from Elephant

An elephant named Lucha who lives Zoological Society of London Whipsnade Zoo needed to have a tooth extracted, and veterinary dental surgeon, Dr. Peter Kertesz, stepped in to help.

May 5, 2016

Lucha, a 33-year-old Asian elephant living at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Whipsnade Zoo, had stopped eating, and veterinarians there quickly found out why: She had a wobbly tooth that had become infected.

Veterinary dental surgeon[1], Dr. Peter Kertesz, who practices in central London, was called in to work with Lucha. He easily extracted the tooth, thanks in part to Lucha being so well-trained.

“While most people dread the idea of a visit to the dentist, for Lucha the elephant it was a relaxed experience, due to the regular training and close relationship she has with our keepers," said Nic Masters, head vet at ZSL, on their website[2].

He also added, "When anesthetizing an animal, we can’t predict what side they’ll lie down on, but thanks to training, Lucha was able to lay down on the right side, ensuring we could access her gum easily, and quickly remove the tooth to get her back on her feet as soon as possible.”